Gender, Sexuality & Relationship Diversities Therapist Accreditation

Application form Standard Accreditation (AGSRDT)

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Category of application

Please note this form does not offer a 'save' facility part way through - you may wish to formulate your responses into a text document and then cut and paste them across to the form and we recommend you read through the requirements so that you can gather together the relevant information in advance of making your submission.

The accreditation scheme is only open to therapists already qualified to at least Counselling Diploma level.

This form requires a substantial amount of information but we are keen to support and encourage you to complete the process. We are looking for evidence of training, conferences, activities and reading etc. that contribute to the development of your understanding and work with GSRD clients.

Our assessors are willing to demonstrate some flexibility and reasonableness in the way the information is presented and recognise you may not have all the evidence to hand to submit, and so we are looking for your intention to use your best efforts to meet the criteria laid out.

At the end of this form you will be required to make payment of your application fee via Paypal.

AGSRDT application fee - £75.00 GBP

Resubmission of a returned application fee - £50.00 GBP

REQUIREMENTS STANDARD ACCREDITATION (AGSRDT)

30 hours training during the past five yearsReading and other media150 practice hours with a minimum of five therapy clients or groups during the past five yearsPersonal statement of 500-1500 wordsSupervisor’s endorsement

Explanatory notes

The following definitions are a guide:

Gender, Sexuality & Relationship Diversities (GSRD)

We take a wide view of these categories, extending the traditional lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender. Gender diversities refer to anyone on the gender spectrum however they identify and not limited to people who have intersex conditions now sometimes referred to as Disorders (Differences) of Sex Development (DSD), androgynes, gender queer and cross dressers. Under sexuality diversities we also include people who are asexual or celibate, members of the BDSM/Kink communities, people in non-traditional, non-monogamous relationships (swingers, polyamorous etc).

GSRDT

A qualified counsellor, psychotherapist or clinical or counselling psychologist who works with clients who identify as GSRD as a significant proportion of their client load, and a member of a recognised professional therapy organisation with a code of ethics and complaints procedure. The therapy qualification should be a minimum of two years diploma level (around 450 hours taught component).

Training

Attendance on courses, workshops and seminars of specific relevance to GSRD work. Where possible attendance certificates or letters from course providers should be uploaded.

Reading and other media

Books, journals, articles or visual material which have informed practice in GSRD areas or contributed to an understanding of social context.

Client therapy hours

Face to face, telephone or internet-based counselling, psychotherapy or therapeutic group work, ideally with a range of GSRD clients with diverse identities. For the advanced level we will be looking for a breadth of diversity and depth of thinking with your GSRD clients.

Supervision hoursSupervision of other GSRD therapeutic work, practitioners and students.

Personal Statement

This should describe the development and philosophy of your practice with GSRD clients and discuss ethical issues and dilemmas and approaches to diversity. It should also indicate how you envisage your practice developing in the future.

Supervisor

This can be the supervisor of your generic practice if they are familiar with the range and standard of your work. We ask them to complete a short online form to support your application.

Your name
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First Name Last Name

Address
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Street Address

Street Address Line 2

City

State / Province

Postal / Zip Code

Country

Landline telephone number

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Area Code Phone Number

Mobile telephone number

Training activities (30 hours required)

Please upload copies of your CPD/Training certificates here

Please tell us briefly how you have benefited from training undertaken

Reading and other media (please list up to five items only)
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Please tell us briefly what you have gained
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Practice hours - please list a minimum of five clients, supervisees or groups that make up the required number of hours and demonstrate the range and depth of your practice
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Total number of practice hours with GSRD clients you have completed during the last five years
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Personal statement

Accredited therapists need to satisfy the assessors that they can demonstrate competence in three broad areas:

knowledge and understanding

skills and abilities

attitudes and values

Knowledge and understanding of:

sexual and gender minority subcultures, including multiple, overlapping identities and an ability to work across genders.

a recognition that sexual minorities, whilst sharing some things in common have many things that differential them from each other.

different psychological and theoretical perspectives on working with sexual and gender minority clients (i.e. different developmental theories, the role of stigma and oppression on the self-structure).

the historical context of psychological therapies and their relationship to sexual and gender minorities.

the dynamics of oppression (internalised and externalised).

an awareness of sexual minority cultures which they know little about, and a willingness to develop their knowledge base as part of their CPD.

We believe that sexual and gender minority people have often developed a hypervigilance to being perceived as ‘mad, bad and dangerous to know.’

Skills and abilities:

the ability to work with hypervigilance in a non-defensive manner and be alert to the clinical implications for the therapeutic relationship.

the ability to distinguish to what extent sexuality or gender variance might be relevant to a client's presentation and when it is not.

how they have used supervision and CPD as ways to develop themselves as a practitioner with sexual minority clients.

that they are able to extend themselves outside of their familiar cultural and social reference points as they engage with clients from diverse communities and backgrounds.

that they are able to work from the client's values and beliefs and help clients develop personalised plans, choices and solutions for their lives.

Attitudes and Values

Accredited therapists will demonstrate to the satisfaction of the assessors that they:

are aware of and committed to managing the particular boundary issues that may emerge when working with sexual minority clients, in an ethical and reflective manner.

are committed to anti-discriminatory values.

embrace an openness to a range of approaches and solutions to human dilemmas, both conventional and non-conventional.

Please write 500-1500 words mindful of meeting the above criteria. If accrediting for the first time this statement should describe the development and philosophy of your practice with GSRD clients and discuss ethical issues and dilemmas and approaches to diversity. It should also indicate how you envisage your practice developing in the future.
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0/1500

Supervisor's endorsement

Your Supervisor is required to complete a short online form asking them to confirm their support of your application. They will be asked to state to what degree they are familiar with your general standard of work.

Supervisor's name
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Supervisor's email address
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Declaration (please enter your name below). The information in this application is an honest and true record as far as I know.
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